IMF / GREECE MIGRANTS TUNISIA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Thursday that the Greek government should be aiming at a 1.5 percent primary surplus and needs no additional austerity measures as it tackles its debt burden. IMF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:44
• Production Date: 10 February 2017
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND - IMF
• Subject Topical: ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
• Geographic Subject: GREECE; TUNISIA; UNITED STATES
• MAMS Id: 1829375
• Parent Id: 1829375
• Alternate Title: unifeed170210c

Description

STORY: IMF / GREECE MIGRANTS TUNISIA
TRT: 2:45
SOURCE: IMF
RESTRICTIONS:NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 9 FEBRUARY 2017 WASHINGTON DC, USA / RECENT

Shotlist

RECENT

1. Wide shot, exterior IMF

9 FEBRUARY 2017, WASHINGTON DC, USA

2. Med shot, Rice coming to the podium
3. Cutaway, reporters
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerry Rice, IMF Spokesman:
“Our strong preference is for a primary surplus target of 1.5 percent and that this should be accompanied by significant debt relief.”
5. Cutaway, reporters
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerry Rice, IMF Spokesman:
“We have also said that we think this target, the 1.5, can be attained by the policies envisaged in the current European stability mechanism program. In short, the IMF is not asking for anymore austerity for Greece.”
7. Wide shot, press room
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gerry Rice, IMF Spokesman:
“If it is at the end of the day the firm desire of the Greek authorities and the European authorities to go with the 3.5 percent primary surplus, we believe that that higher level of primary surplus is sustainable, but for a limited number of years, but only if underpinned by high quality structural reforms and by growth-friendly measures.”
9. Cutaway, reporters
10. SOUNDBITE (English): Gerry Rice, IMF Spokesman:
“We have done a lot of research and work on the topic of migration and refugees including recently and again the IMF has published all of this. We have put that out in the open and we’ve said that we think the free movement of goods and services and people in general can bring economic benefits.”
11. Cutaway, reporters
12. SOUNDBITE (English): Gerry Rice, IMF Spokesman:
“The recent IMF mission had constructed discussions with the authorities on actions needed to ensure the health of public finances, increased public investment and move ahead with delayed structural reforms in support of stronger job creating growth, so just to respond to the question. And we believe that these actions, if sufficiently strong, can pave the way for a review mission under Tunisia’s arrangement with the IMF in the coming months.”

RECENT

13. Wide shot, exterior, IMF

Storyline

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that the Greek government should be aiming at a 1.5 percent primary surplus and needs no additional austerity measures as it tackles its debt burden.

Gerry Rice, IMF Spokesman told reporters at the IMF bi-weekly briefing Thursday (9 Feb) in Washington DC “our strong preference is for a primary surplus target of 1.5 percent and that this should be accompanied by significant debt relief.”

It continues to be the view that Athens does not need more austerity measures, Rice said, but is not ruling out more ambitious surplus goals if the government can agree with European authorities.

He said, “If it is at the end of the day the firm desire of the Greek authorities and the European authorities to go with the 3.5 percent primary surplus, we believe that that higher level of primary surplus is sustainable, but for a limited number of years, but only if underpinned by high quality structural reforms and by growth-friendly measures.”

The IMF believes it is still premature to speculate on the macroeconomic impact of the Trump Administration’s travel and immigration restrictions orders as the case is still making its way through the court system.

But Rice pointed out that in principal studies and research by the IMF show that the free movement of trade, services and people is generally beneficial. He said, “We have put that out in the open and we’ve said that we think the free movement of goods and services and people in general can bring economic benefits.”

Rice also addressed the situation in Tunisia, where the IMF has noted that growth prospects have nearly doubled but public debt is growing and the government is grappling with persistent high employment.

“The recent IMF mission had constructed discussions with the authorities on actions needed to ensure the health of public finances, increased public investment and move ahead with delayed structural reforms in support of stronger job creating growth, so just to respond to the question,” Rice noted.

“And we believe that these actions, if sufficiently strong, can pave the way for a review mission under Tunisia’s arrangement with the IMF in the coming months,” he said.